Thursday, March 4, 2010

I Did It (and you can, too)

I'm not really much of a joiner. My rebellious side doesn't do well with others telling me what to do. I was talked into joining the Daring Bakers and I was delighted to be a member during the time I participated. But I soon found that I chafed under the rules and wasn't always eager to make the challenge that was selected. Either it wasn't a challenge for me, or I didn't have anybody to eat that particular challenge, and it was really wasteful to make something just to be part of the group. So I dropped DB.

But I do have many mountains left to conquer in the cooking realm. So I'm starting a new group. It's actually an UnGroup. You don't have to ask to join. You don't have to follow anyone else's schedule. You won't feel left out if you don't participate.

So what is this ungroup? It's the I Did It! ungroup. You select the challenge - you know best what intimidates you, what you've been putting off trying. When you put up your post, just slap up this logo to let the world know you've taken on something new and given it a good kicking!

Go ahead, grab the badge right now and tuck it into a folder to save for later. All I ask is that you put a link to this post by the badge so the word can spread and others can push themselves and reward their efforts with a high five.

This year, since I'm starting late in the year, there will be ten opportunities to high five yourself. (Of course, since this is an ungroup, with almost no rules, you can high five yourself as often as you like). You could do ten in one month, or one a month, or whatever you're inspired to do. In December, if you've posted ten I Did It's!, send me the link and I'll send you back an official High Ten! Badge to put on your blog, plus a round-up of all the participants.

So, grab that badge, store it with the link to this post, and start making a list of all the things you've wanted to try, but just needed an excuse or a small push to do. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I could've written that first paragraph, minus the part about joining DB, myself! I hate being told what to do or having to do things a certain way (unless it's my way). Perhaps this will inspire people to do more things---I can always use a push (and not just baking pushes) on a regular basis.

I love this idea! I just recently joined DB, and I'm already wondering if I have the stamina. I'm going to give it a go for a while, but I just love your un-group idea. I'll definitely be "joining" that! :)

I feel like crying. This is my first time visiting your blog but I think I am hooked. Every post makes me salivate and wish you're my mama. LOL. I love baking and cooking but am too cheap because good chocolate ain't cheap and I just got married so I haven't got any baking tins and stuff. Sigh... I splurged on vanilla beans last week though. Not if only I could get a muffin tin to make vanilla bean muffins. Sigh & double Sigh. So all in all, I'm just dropping a not to say I love your blog. it's coming under my must-reads. :-)

What a lovely idea for a (not)group. I'm totally one of those who can strange myself in trying to follow all the rules of whatever. As I'm getting older I can manage to say no a little better. This might be a help to get me to do some of the stuff I wanted but still haven't...

Thanks, all, for your positive comments. I can see we're going to have a lot of fun being an ungroup!

Candid Whisperer - For starter pans, thrift stores and garage sales. They may not be the very best quality, but they'll let you get started. For your vanilla beans, may I suggest my vanilla bean scones? No special pans required.

I love this idea! I just started a blog that mainly involves working through my grandma's and great aunt's old recipes. Some are rather intimidating. I will use this badge with pride whenever I tackle one of the more difficult recipes!